Reuters Photojournalist Jassam Mohammed Set Free By Iraqi Court

 

BAGHDAD (December 1, 2008) – An Iraqi court has ordered that freelance photojournalist Jassam Mohammed, who has been detained by U.S. military forces since early September and who has worked for Reuters covering the war in Iraq, be released from Camp Cropper prison near Baghdad's airport.

The court ruled that there was no evidence against Mohammed to support holding him. Camp Cropper is the same prison facility where Reuters photojournalist Bilal Hussein was held for two years before being released due to a lack of evidence.

"I'm pleased to learn that a court ordered Ibrahim Jassam released as there was no evidence against him," said Reuters News editor-in-chief David Schlesinger. "I hope the U.S. authorities comply with this order swiftly to reunite him with his colleagues, friends and family."

The Iraqi Central Criminal Court said the case against Mohammed is now closed, and issued the order to free the photojournalist on November 30. A copy of the order was provided to a lawyer who represented Reuters in the case. There was no response from the U.S. military on the ruling.

There are still 16,000 to 17,000 people being detained by U.S. forces who will have to be released by next year if they have not been charged, or handed over to Iraqi authorities, due to a security pact with the Iraqi government which requires them to take over the handling of prisoners after next year.

Mohammed was detained in early September in a raid on his home in Mahmudiya by U.S. and Iraqi forces. His photographic equipment was also confiscated. Jassam works for other Iraqi media, in addition to Reuters. Mahmudiya was once one of the most violent areas of Iraq but security there has improved in step with a sharp drop in attacks across Iraq.
 
In August, the U.S. military freed a cameraman who was working for Reuters after holding him for three weeks without charges. It was the third time Ali al-Mashhadani, who also conducts freelance work for the BBC and Washington-based National Public Radio, had been detained.

 

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